What to Know about Foreign-Plated Cars

Coming to Mexico by land is a very unique experience, and every year hundreds of thousands of people drive from the USA or Canada to different parts of our Mexican Republic.

Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende, Queretaro, Mexico City, Los Cabos, La Paz, Loreto, Ajijic/Chapala, Guadalajara, are just some of the preferred destinations for those who drive their foreign-plated vehicles.

Bringing your own vehicle has many benefits, especially so you can move freely around the city in Mexico where you reside. However, there are some very important aspects that you must consider in order for your vehicle to circulate legally in the country. Here we share some of them:

Temporary Import Permit: This permit can be processed on the Internet, in some Mexican consulates, and also at the border crossing when entering Mexico.

If you want to do it online: Visit the website www.banjercito.com.mx and follow the steps indicated there. It is important that you save the file number, and in no later than 7 days you will receive your permit and vehicle sticker at your home or the address you provided.
At consulates: These are the cities where you can obtain this permit:
– Illinois: Chicago
– Texas: Austin, Dallas, Dallas Fort Worth and Houston
– California: Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Sacramento
– New Mexico: Albuquerque
– Colorado: Denver
– Arizona: Phoenix
At the border: The procedure must be done before entering the country, and is carried out at the Temporary Vehicle Import Center (CITEV for its acronym in Spanish). If you do it this way, it is necessary that you carry a Visa or Mastercard credit/debit card, or cash.

You also need to bring the vehicle’s ownership title in your name, or the license plate registration. If the vehicle is being financed, you can prove ownership with the license place registration and the purchase-sale contract.

And last but not least, you need to bring your residency card or a document that confirms your legal residency in Mexico such as a work visa or passport.

You also need to bring the vehicle’s ownership title in your name, or the license plate registration. If the vehicle is being financed, you can prove ownership with the license place registration and the purchase-sale contract. And last but not least, you need to bring your residency card or a document that confirms your legal residency in Mexico such as a work visa or passport.

But how much does each of these procedures cost, and what else should you know before entering the country?

Cost and Payment Methods
Option and Cost	Procedure	Permit Delivery	Payment Options
Border: 51 pesos + tax	In Person	Immediately	Cash, debit or credit card
Consulate: 51 pesos + tax	In Person	Immediately	International credit card or debit card in the name of the importer
Online: 45 pesos + tax	Online	Banjercito will send the permit and vehicle sticker to the address you provided in no later than 7 days	International credit card or debit card in the name of the importer
If you are paying with debit or with credit card, only VISA or Master Card will be accepted

By any form of payment, you must leave a security deposit to ensure the return of the vehicle within the authorized time period. The amount depends on the model and year of the vehicle. You can recover the deposit only by canceling the permit before the maximum return date. Here’s a chart of the deposit you should leave depending on the year of your vehicle:

Year-vehicle Model	Deposit amount
2007 and newer	$400 USD
2001 up to 2006	$300 USD
2000 and older	$200 USD

Lastly, consider that before you cross the border you must have an insurance policy that covers third-party liability for any damages caused in Mexico.

Enjoy your trip to Mexico!